Trussed beam



TRUSSED BEAM 2 SheetsySheet 2 J. H. SCHLAFLY Filed Aug. 1'7, 1925 Julyl 3, 1928.

@Hoz warf Patented July 3, 1928. l 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS H. SCHLAFLY, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BERGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

'rnUssED BEAM.

Application led August 17, 1925. Serial No. 50,750.

The invention relates to the construction of beams which may be made of pressed steel chord members and an expanded metal web member secured together, and the object of 5 the improvement is to provide a beam structure in which there is a proper and the most eilicient apportionment ofthe metal in the chord and web members.

The object of the improvement may be attained by making the web member of a metal strip laterally slit and longitudinally expanded to form one or more rows of diamond mesh orl the like, and making the chord members of a pair of pressed or rolled angle strips,

riveting or like means.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming. part hereof,in 2o which- Figure l is a side elevation of a short section of the improved beam, showing one form of the chord members, with parts broken away to illustrate the method of assembling the members;

Fig. 2, a cross section of the same on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fi 3, a side elevation of a short section of t e improved beam, showing another form of the chord members, with parts broken away to illustrate the method of assemblin the members;

Flg. 4, a cross section of the same on line 4 4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a side elevation of a short section of the improved beam, showing a modified form of expanded web members, with parts broken away to illustrate the method of as sembling the members and Fi 6, a plan of -a metal strip, laterally slit or lon itudinal expansion, for making the modifie form of web member.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

The web member, indicated generally by 7 orl7, may be made of a heavy gauge sheet metal blank 7", transversely cut to form staggered slits 8, and longitudinally expandl ed to form a series of bonds 9 and 9 and intervening strands 10 which may be in the form of well known diamond mesh.

The web -strip is slit and expanded so as to form a row of bonds 9 along each ede portion thereof, and these bonds may be between which the edges of the` expanded strip may be secured by welding extended in length so as to substantially equal the width of the lianges of the chord members between which they are to be se-v cured, and also be originally formed or subsequently pressed into the same common plane. p

The chord members may be made of two separate angle strips 1l, reversely positioned so that one flange 11 of each strip will abut the opposite sides of the edge bonds of the expanded strip web member, and the other flanges 1l will extend therefrom in line with each other to form a bearing face for the beam of such width as may be desired. Upon the edge of each face iiange may be formed L-iianges 12 to give the combined chord members a channel strength.

The edge bonds 9 of the expanded strip web may be clamped and secured between the abutting flanges 11 of the chord members, as by spot welding 13, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; or in the modified form, shown in Figs. 8 and 4, each chord member may be made of a sheet metal strip folded upon itself and bent from two reversely positioned angles between which the edge` bonds Aof the web member are secured. In this form of construction, suitable apertures l2, are provided in the folded edge, through which the edge bonds 6 of the web member' may be passed for the purpose of assembling the parts, after which the edge bonds are secured between the inturned flan es of the chord members as by spot wel ing. p

By varying the particular dimensions and shape of the chord members, and the particular style and mesh of the web member, the amount of metal in the chord and web members, respectively, can be controlled so as to conform exactly to the strength desired in each element or part of the trussed beam structure.

And by not slitting and expanding end portions`14, and intermediate portions 14 of the sheet metal strip blank, these por-- tions will form transverse spacing plates 14;a or spacing strips 14 in the web member, which chord members at the ends and at intermediate points of the trussed beam; as shown in Fig. 5.

I claim:

1. A trussed beam includin a transversely slit longitudinally expan ed web memwill strengthen and stay the ber, and an angle strip chord member on the trussed beam, comprising a strip folded sides of the edges of the web member, there upon itself and bent to form reversely posibein unexpanded portions of the web memtioned angles, with apertures in the folded 10 ber or spacing and staying the chord memedge for receiving portions of a web member.

5 bers, and means securing the web and chord In testimony that I claim the a'bove, I

members together. have hereunto subscribed m name.

2. A sheet metal chord member for a J ULIUS H. CHLAFLY. 

